Don't keep cosmetics, toiletries too long

If you have bathroom clutter, you have a lot of ineffective products that you'd be better off without. Stop wasting your money by letting products expire. Cosmetics are not required by law to have expiration dates, and the guidelines from experts vary. Many products do have expiration dates printed on the packaging, but if you don't store your products at optimal temperatures and properly sealed after each use, they may expire long before that. And, no, using 5-year-old lotion probably won't harm you, but if you're looking to cull a glut of products, aged bottles are the best place to start. The dates below are loose guidelines, but note that the more a product is exposed to air and potential bacteria, the shorter its lifespan. Powders last longer than liquids, and liquids in pumps stay fresher longer than liquids in jars. Debra D. Bass, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Anti-aging and acne treatments: Three months to a year. Serums with antioxidants can turn quickly; be on the lookout for any changes in color.

Eye cream: Unopened three years, and one year after first use.

Body lotion: One year if opened and two to three years if unopened. Pump containers tend to stay fresh longest.

Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel: About three years.

Bath oil: One year to use up that gorgeous bottle with the lavender stems; don't delay.

Sunscreen: Check the package for an expiration date, but if you still have last year's opened bottle of sunscreen, you should abandon it. Aim to use it up within six months of first use; if you don't, you're probably not using it enough.

Mascara and liquid eyeliner: Three to four months once you start using it. Two years if unopened.

Eye and lip pencils: Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean, or dab them on a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Lipstick and gloss: Two to three years unopened, or 18 months after first use.

Foundation and concealer: About two years for oil-based and up to three years for water-based if unopened. Most of these products are designed to last up to a year, so if you don't use it up, chances are you didn't love it anyway.

Blush/bronzer: About 18 months after first use.

Perfume: About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, stash it away in a cool, dark place. Or if you get a new scent that you can't fit into your rotation, keep it in its box and store it in your refrigerator.

Nail polish: One year.

Nail-polish remover: Good indefinitely.

Hairstyling products: Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula. Hair gel and spray typically last two to three years.

Bar soap: Up to three years.

Shaving cream: About two years.

Deodorant: Up to two years, but antiperspirants should have an expiration date.

Body bleaches and depilatories: Up to two years unopened or six months after first use.

Anything with SPF: Should have an expiration date. All others, up to three years.

Lip balm: Good up to five years unopened, and one to three years after first use.